In response to Aerosmith's deep concern
and dismay at the notion of having offended any religious group by the
image on the cover of their recently released album, Nine Lives, the five
band members have requested that their record label, Columbia Records,
immediately cease manufacturing the cover artwork. They also asked
that the image be replaced in all future manufacturing runs with a new
and completely different design.
The original album cover image, as presented to
Aerosmith, was selected for its aesthetic qualities and its consistency
with both the album's conceptual and graphic themes. Up until
the time of the album's release, the band was unaware that this particular
image was inspired by an original painting in a book written by His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness and published by the Bhaktivedanta Trust,
an affiliated organization. Upon being informed of the origin of
this image, the band, in order to avoid any perceived infringements or
potential conflict or embarrassment for any group, went through all of
the proper channels to obtain licensing approvals for its use from this
Trust. Having obtained this permission Aerosmith believed that
no further issues existed.
At no point in the development of the album packaging
did the band, or anyone else involved in this project, intend to harm or
show disrespect to the Hindu community or any other religious group, nor
did they intend to denigrate any religious image.
Aerosmith sincerely apologizes for any offense,
however unintended, caused by the Nine Lives artwork.
